Audio-visual apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for presenting visual information and corresponding audio information simultaneously utilizes an audio-visual slide which includes a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape of relatively great recording capacity. The apparatus includes projecting means for the transparency of the slide, driving means for moving the slide to the projecting position in the projecting means and returning the slide to its original position, tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in the slide when the slide is in the projecting position, and reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with the magnetic tape to reproduce audio information on a spiral track of the tape with the aid of a magnetic head.

United States Patent 1191 Ogiso et al. Feb. 5, 1974 [S4] AUDIO-VISUAL APPARATUS 3,198,527 8/1965 Stanton 274/4 K [75] Inventors: Mitsutoshi Ogiso; Kazuo Tshikawa, 3,563,644 2/197l Castedello 353/19 both of Kawasaki Yoshihiro Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Shlgeta Tokyo all of Japan Assistant Examiner-A. J. Mivabito [73] Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper Japan & Scinto [22] Filed. Oct. 18, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 189869 An apparatus for presenting visual information and corresponding audio information simultaneously uti- [30] Foreign Application Priorit Data lizes an audio-visual slide which includes a transpar- Oct. 20, 1970 Japan 45/921131 ency for Projection and a movable endless magnetic tape of relatively great recording capacity. The appa- {521 (3| 353/19, 353/1 5' 353/120 ratus includes projecting means for the transparency 151 1 1111. Q1. (1031, 31/06 of h Slide driving means for "Wing the Slide the [58 1 Field of Search 353/1549, 120; prolecting Position in the Projecting means and return- 274/4 J, 4 K ing the slide to its original position, tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in the slide when the [56] References Cited slide is in the projecting position, and reproducing UNITED STATES PATENTS means adapted to be urged into contact with the magnetic tape to reproduce audio information on a spiral 3,238,842 3/1966 wiklund 353/120 track of the p with the aid of a magnetic head- 3,296,925 1/l967 Yamamoto 274/4 .1 2,933,319 4/1960 Proctor 274/4 5 10 Claims, 34 Drawing Figures PAIENIED FEB '5 I974 SHEET 02 0F 10 FIG. 3

PAIENTED 51974 SHEET 03 0F 10 FIG. 4C

INVENTOR,

PAIENTEU 5*974 3.790.265

SHEET D'HJF 10 I ATENTED 5l974 3.790.265 SHEEI USHF 10 PATENTED F5? 5 7 sum 09 or 10 FIG. 28

FIG. 27

6 O 3 PIITJH FTP m m 3 3 w w 3 3 m 3 1 w E mmfl M 7 W 6 O O 3 3 FIG. 30

FIG. 29

I NVENTOR 1 AUDIO-VISUAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an audio-visual apparatus, and more particularly to an audio-visual apparatus which uses an audio-visual slide containing therein an endless audio recording tape.

2. Description of the Prior Art Photographic slides have been finding a wider use as recording media for visual information. This is because such slides are relatively simple to make and images thereon can be projected at any desired magnification through a projector. These slides, however, have only contained optical transparencies bearing visual information alone and it has been impossible to reproduce corresponding audio information together with the visual information to thereby achieve simultaneous reproduction of both the audio and the visual information.

To overcome such a disadvantage, two types of system have heretofore been put into practice. One of them is the system whereby audio information corresponding to the visual information recorded in a slide is recorded on a magnetic recording medium such as magnetic tape or the like and the recorded magnetic tape is reproduced in synchronism with the projection of the slide. The other system is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,480,356, which utilizes a slide having a spiral sound track formed circumferentially of the optical transparency thereof so that when the slide is projected the audio information recorded on the sound track may be reproduced, thus providing reproduced audio-visual information.

According to the former type of system, the projection of the slide and the reproduction of the audio information corresponding to the visual information recorded on the slide have been effected by the use of separate units, and this has led to bulkiness of the entire apparatus. Further, the need to synchronize the projection of the slide and the reproduction of the audio information recorded on the magnetic tape or the like has made the mechanism very much complicated and low in operating efficiency.

With the latter system, audio information is recorded on the slide in common with visual information so that as the slide is projected the audio signals can be reproduced simply by playing back the sound track formed on the slide, and thus the apparatus can be simple in construction and excellent in operation without requiring the need for synchronized reproduction of the visual and the audio information. This latter system, however, has stiff suffered from a disadvantage that the very much limited space of the slide leads to a very much limited recording capacity of the sound track on such slide, thus making it infeasible to record a sufficient amount of audio information on the sound track. Another disadvantage of this system is that the slide having a spiral sound track formed circumferentially of its optical transparency requires a magnetic head or similar scanning member to trace the spiral track for the reproduction of the audio information, and that the sound track which usually bears very densely recorded information presupposes a very much sophisticated construction of the scanning member for precisely tracing such track, which in turn means a very much complicated construction of the entire apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate all the foregoing disadvantages existing in the prior art and to provide an apparatus which utilizes an audio-visual slide including an audio information recording portion with a movable endless magnetic tape of relatively great recording capacity and an optical transparency having pre-recorded visual information, and in which a magnetic head is shifted to a position corresponding to the starting end of the audio information recorded on the magnetic tape in accordance with a start signal recorded at such starting end and thereafter the magnetic head starts scanning the magnetic tape to reproduce the audio-visual information.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become fully apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slide projector to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slide used with the projector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a plurality of such slides are collectively loaded in the projector of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A, B and C show the construction, operation and electric circuit of a mechanism for driving a group of slides longitudinally thereof.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and sectional views showing the construction of a mechanism for driving individual slides laterally thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a magnetic tape scanning mechanism synchronized with the driving mechanism of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the essential portions of the head scanning mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relation between the head and the tape in the slide.

FIGS. 11 to 13 diagrammatically show the construction of the control circuit.

FIGS. 14 to 26 show various forms of start and end signals provided on the magnetic tape and various modifications of the means for detecting such signals.

FIGS. 27 to 32 show further forms of the slide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the entire construction of a slide projector in which the audio-visual apparatus of the present invention is incorporated. A slide projector housing 1 has a groove 2 formed at one side thereof for receiving a plurality of audio-visual slides 3. The projector housing 1 has a projection lens 4 provided in one end wall thereof. The slides 3 are closely juxtaposed in upright position and collectively disposed in the groove 2. The projector housing 1 also has an opening 5 formed in the side wall thereof facing the groove 2, through which opening 5 one of the slides such as 3 may be moved into the projector by an actuator 6 associated with a driving mechanism to be described until the optical transparency 3, of the slide 3,

3 is brought to its projecting position and the magnetic tape 3,, of the same slide to its reproducing position for the audiovisual reproduction of the slide 3,. This is also the case with each of the succeeding slides.

One of the audio-visual slides 3 is typically shown as 3, in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the slide is in the form of a hollow cassette comprising a pair of symmetric, thinwalled halves 3a and 3b disposed in aligned abutment. One side wall of the slide cassette is formed with an arcuate cut-away portion 3c, which is formed with a slit 3d leading to the hollow interior of the slide cassette and having a width somewhat greater than that of a slide sheet 3f. The slide cassette further has a rectangular opening 3e formed through the cassette halves 3a, 3b and dimensioned somewhat greater than the size of an optical transparency 3g attached to the slide sheet 3f to be inserted through the slit 3d.

A wide, endless magnetic tape 3h, is wrapped with a predetermined tension around shafts 3i, 3j rotatably journalled within the right-hand half of the slide cassette (as viewed in FIG. 2). The endless tape 3h is supported for movement within the slide cassette under two openings 3k and 31 formed therethrough. The opening 3k is provided to allow a later-described pinch roller to enter therethrough. When the slide 3 is brought to its projecting position, a capstan also to be described later is adapted to enter through a circular hole 3m formed in the right-hand side wall of the slide cassette until the capstan is inserted into the space between the upper and lower webs of the endless magnetic tape 3h, and at the same time the pinch roller may be inserted through the opening 3k and urged into contact with the magnetic tape, so that the tape 3h is held by and between the capstan and the pinch roller and driven thereby as soon as the capstan is driven in a manner to be described.

The slide 3, further includes a recess 3n for receiving therein a later-described slide driver, a selector 3p controllably displaceable between its full-line position and its dotted-line position, a slide feeding slot 3q and a slide stop slot 3r both formed through the bottom wall of the slide, and an elongated slot 3s formed through the upper cassette half 3a.

In use, a slide sheet S carrying a desired optical transparency is inserted into the slide 3 through the slit 3d and certain audio information corresponding to the visual information recorded on that transparency is prerecorded in a spiral magnetic track on the endless tape 3h in a manner to be later described.

As shown in FIG. 3, successive slides 3,-3, are assembled together by inserting a connecting rod 7 through the slots 3s of the respective slides and mounting fasteners 7 at the opposite ends of the rod 7 to prevent the slides from slipping off the rod. When so assembled, the slides 3,3,., with the connecting rod 7 are placed in the aforesaid slide reception or loading groove 2 formed in the projector 1. All these slides 3,-3, have therein slide sheets including respective optical transparencies bearing various desired visual records, as well as pre-recorded magnetic tapes containing audio signals corresponding to those visual records.

FIG. 4A shows a driving mechanism for the slides 3. The mechanism includes a frame 10 fixed to the projector housing I, a driving shaft lljournalled to the frame 10 by means of unshown bearings, a pulley 12 secured to the driving shaft 11, worm gears 13, 14 and 14 mounted on the driving shaft 11, and a driven lever 15 pivotally supported on the frame 10 by means of a pivot pin 16. The driven lever 15 at one end thereof is normally biased counter-clockwise by a spring 17 and adapted to be rotated clockwise against the force of the spring 17 by the actuator of a plunger P,, thereby transmitting the drive to a later-described toothed wheel via worm gear 13, gear 18 rotatably mounted on the shaft 16, and intermediate gears 19,19 on the lever 15. A pivotable lever 20 having one end thereof engageable with the actuator of plunger P or P is pivoted to the frame 10 by means of a shaft 21, and carries thereon intermediate gears 22, 23 and 24 which are in mesh engagement with one another. The gear 24 is in the form of a worm gear and always in engagement with a worm gear 27 on a shaft 26. When the lever 20 is attracted by the plunger P or P,,, the gear 22 on the lever 20 may be selectively engaged with one of worm gears 28 and 29, which are always in engagement with the worm gears 14, and 14 so as to transmit the drive to the worm gear 27. The worm gears 28 and 29 have their pitches selected with respect to the gears 14, and 14 so that the gears 28 and 29 are rotated in opposite directions to each other. Control earns 30, 31 and 32 are secured onto the shaft 26 and are slidably engaged by slide driving actuator 33, slide retaining actuator 34 and stop switch 32, respectively. A toothed wheel 36 is rotatably supported by a shaft 37 on the frame 10 and has its peripheral wall toothed for meshing with the gear 20. A driving member 38 having a slide actuator 6 is mounted for reciprocal movement on a slide bar 39 having its opposite ends secured to the frame 10. An intermediate lever 42 is pivotally connected at one end to the toothed wheel 36 by a pivot pin 40 and at the other end to the driving member 38 by a pin 41, so that a 360 rotation of the toothed wheel 36 causes the driving member 38 with the actuator 6 thereon to reciprocate on the slide bar 39. M,, M, and M, are microswitches closed and opened by a control cam 36, provided on the toothed wheel 36. Pulley 12, is connected to an unshown driving motor via a shaft 12,.

Microswitehes M,, M M and plungers P,, P, and P are connected together in the manner as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4C. More specifically, the microswitches M, and M are normally closed switches connected in series with the plunger P,, while the other microswitch M is a normally open switch connected with the plungers P and P and in parallel with a switch 35. A manually operated remote switch SM is connected in parallel with the serially connected microswitches M, and M so as to act as a slide change-over start switch, and an operating switch SR for changing over the slide movement between the normal and reverse directions is selectively connected with the plunger P or P When the slides 3,3,., are connected together by the connecting rod 7 and positioned in the groove 2, the actuator 34 is engaged in the slide stop slots 3r of the slides 3 and 3 and the actuator 6 is engaged in the recess 3n of the slide 3,. At that time, the feeding actuator 33 is displaced downwardly out of engagement with the mating slot 3: of the slides 3 and 3 by the cam 30.

In this position, when the slide start switch SM is closed, the plunger P, is energized and the drive from unshown motor is transmitted via pulley l2 and gears 13, 18, 19, 19 to the toothed wheel 36, which thus begins rotating. The rotation of the toothed wheel 36 causes the cam 36, thereon to shift from its position corresponding to the microswitch M, to its position corresponding to the microswitch M (i.e., the position where the toothed wheel has been rotated 180 in FIG. 4A), thereby closing the latter switch M Upon closing of the microswitch M the plunger P, is connected in series therewith through the contact of the microswitch M,, so that this plunger remains energized even if the operating switch SM is opened, thus allowing the toothed wheel 36 to continue its rotation. The rotation of the toothed wheel 36 causes, through the intermediate lever 42, the actuator 6 to move the slide 3, from the position of FIG. 1 into the opening 5 in the projector. The cam 36, on the toothed wheel 36 actuates to open the microswitch M, and deenergize the plunger P,, so that the lever is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 16 by the force of the spring 17. As the result, the gear 19' is disengaged from the toothed wheel 36, which is thus stopped from rotating (see the position of FIG. 4A). As will be later described, when the play-back of the endless tape in the slide is completed, a switch SE (to be described) is closed to re-energize the plunger P, to bring the gear 19' again into engagement with the toothed wheel 36, whereupon this wheel resumes its clockwise rotation to open the microswitch M,. Despite the opening of the switch M,, the plunger P, remains energized to maintain the engagement between the gear 19 and the toothed wheel 36.

As the toothed wheel rotates in the clockwise direction, the actuator 6 is caused, through the intermediate lever 42, to be displaced leftwardly from the position of FIG. 4A, thereby retracting the slide 3, from the opening 5 into the groove 2. During that while, the cam 36,, on the toothed wheel 36 closes the microswitch M to energize the plunger P and bring the gears 22 and 28 into engagement. As the result, the driving shaft 26 is driven to rotate clockwise via gears 23, 24 and 27. The rotation of the driving shaft 26 causes the switch 35 on the control cam 32 to be closed and thereby maintain the plunger P energized. The plunger P is maintained energized until the cam 32 rotates through 360 so that the switch 35 is opened when received in the recessed portion of that cam. Therefore, the cams 30 and 31 also rotate through 360, whereupon they are stopped. The 360 rotation of the cam 30 causes the actuator 33 to be engaged in the mating slot 3q of the slide 3, which is now back to its initial position as shown in FIG. 4B, and also to be engaged in the mating slot 3q of the slide 3 Thus, each of these slides is fed in forward direction by a distance corresponding to the thickness of one slide. Thereupon, the engagement between the actuator 33 and the slots 3q is again released as indicated by the dots-and-dash lines in FIG. 4B, and thus the actuator 33 is allowed to stop at its retracted position. Such movement of the actuator 33 causes the group of slides 3,-3, to move forward by a distance corresponding to the thickness of one slide since these slides 3,3, are connected together by the connecting rod 7.

On the other hand, despite a 360 rotation of the cam 31, the actuator 34 remains disengaged from the stop slots 3r of the slides 3 and 3 as indicated by full lines in FIG. 48, as long as the actuator 33 is engaged in the mating slots 3q of the slides, but when the actuator 33 feeds the slides by the distance equal to the thickness of one slide until this actuator is disengaged from the mating slots 3g, the actuator 34 is moved to its advanced position as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 48, where it is engaged in the stop slots 3r of the slides 3 and 3,, to stop and retain the slides in this position.

FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate the mechanism for advancing the magnetic head with respect to the magnetic tape when the slide is brought to the projecting position by the aforesaid driving mechanism. In FIG. 5, fixed parallel frames and 51 have a guide bar 52 extending therebetween and fixed thereto. A head and pinch roller carrier plate 53 is slidably mounted on the bar 52, and a driving shaft 54 having a spiral gear portion 54, formed intermediately thereof is rotatably supported by the frames 50 and 51. The driving shaft 54 has one end thereof extended beyond the frame 51 to securely carry a driven gear 55 thereon. As shown in FIG. 7, the carrier plate 53 has a sector opening 53, formed centrally thereof so that the gear portion 54, of the driving shaft 54 may extend through the opening 53, while engaging one side wall of this opening. A release lever 56 is pivotally supported on a shaft 57 extending between and journalled to the frames 50 and 51. One end of the release lever 56 has a slit 57, formed for engagement with the projection 53 of the carrier plate 53. The other end of the release lever 56 is connected to the actuator of a plunger P and normally biased clockwise by a return spring 57'. On the other hand, the carrier plate 53 has a pinch roller 53P journalled thereto, the pinch roller having a length approximately equal to the width of the magnetic tape 3h. The carrier plate 53 further carries a magnetic head 531-! secured thereto. Thus, when the plunger P is energized and its actuator is attracted, the carrier plate 53 may be rotated clockwise so as to advance, the pinch roller 53F and the head 53H into the openings 3k and 3] of a particular slide which is then at its projecting position, until the pinch roller and head are urged into contact with the tape 3h. A return spring 58 is provided to bias the carrier plate 53 leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 5, and a stop pin 59 is provided on the frame 50 to stop the leftwardly biased plate .53. A driven gear 60 is loosely fitted on the shaft 54 in common with the gear 55, and it is in engagement with a driven gear 61 mounted on the shaft of capstan 62 rotatably supported on the frame 51. When the slide 3, is fed by the actuator 6 and stopped at its projecting position, the capstan 62 may be moved through the capstan inlet hole 3m in the side wall of the slide 3, and into the space between the webs of the tape 3h, as shown in FIG. 6, and at the same time the transparency of the slide sheet S is positioned in the optical projection path provided by a light source L1 and a focusing lens L2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the driven gear 55 has a studded pin 63 for pivotally supporting thereon a pawled lever 64, whose pawl portion 64, is normally biased into en gagement with the toothed portion 60, of the gear 60 by a spring having one end stopped by a pin 64 on the rear end of the lever 64 and the other end stopped by a pin 55, on the gear 55. The rear end of the pawled lever 64 is formed with a projection 64,, within the locus of which the actuator P of a release plunger P is positioned. When the plunger P is not energized, the actuator P thereof is projected into the locus of the projection 64;, of the pawled lever 64, as shown in FIG. 9, so that the actuator P may engage the projection 64 to thereby disengage the pawled lever 64 from the toothed portion 60, of the driven gear 60 after the gears 55 and 60 are rotated together by the pawled lever 64.

A switch SW, and plunger P are electrically connected in the manner as shown in the control circuit diagram of FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the circuit includes a relay 70, a detection switch D, for detecting start and end marks on the magnetic tape 3h contained in the casing of the magnetic head 53H (see FIG. and normally open contacts 70, and 70 of the relay 70 which are adapted to close upon energization of the relay. A relay 71 is parallel-connected with the plunger P and has a normally open contact 71,. The contacts 70, and 71, of the relays 70 and 71 are parallelconnected with each other and serially connected with switch SW, so as to connect the plunger P and relay 71 with a DC source E. The switch SW, is normally closed as shown in FIG. 5, and adapted to be instantaneously opened by the lower end of the actuator 6 when the actuator is retaining the slide 3, to its initial position. A manually operated start switch 72 is such that its movable contact shifts from its fixed contact a to its fixed contact b in response to the opening of the switch SM so as to move the actuator 6 toward the slide reception groove 2 when the slides are placed in this groove, and that the movable contact shifts from the contact b to the contact a in response to the closing of the switch SM so as to return the actuator to its position of FIG. 5. Microswitches M, and M,, are parallel with the aforesaid switches M, and M and adapted to be closed by the cam 35,. The microswitch M, is normally open but the microswitch M is normally closed. SW is a switch adapted to open when the head carrier plate 53 is returned to the position of FIG. 5, and SM is a change-over switch adapted to open and close in response to the operating switch SM. Plunger P,, as shown in FIG. 4C, has two coils wound thereon and one of these coils has terminals a, b connected with respective change-over switches.

Referring to FIG. 4, the magnetic tape 3h in each of the slides 3,3,., is provided with a spiral audio information recording track, of which the start end is indicated as a start mark A, and the terminal end as an end mark E,, both marks being formed of metal foil. The plunger P, is connected with a normally open binary contact (not shown) provided in the microswitch M,', and when the toothed wheel 36 is in the position of FIG. 4A, this plunger may be energized to rotate the carrier plate 53 clockwise about the shaft 52 so as to urge the head 53H and pinch roller 531 into contact with the tape 3h in the slide 3,.

In the construction described so far, the operating switch 72 has its movable contact connected with its fixed contact a during the projection of the slide. When the slide 3, is moved to its projecting position and stopped there as described previously, the endless magnetic tape 3h therein is driven to move because the capstan is driven from motor M, through gear 55, pawled lever 64 and gears 60, 55, 62 with the pinch roller 53F urged into contact with the tape.

As the tape 3h thus begins to move, the mark detection switch D, of the head 53H detects the start mark A, on the tape and this switch D, closes to drive the relay 70, whose contacts 70, and 70 are thus closed. In the meantime, the projection 64,, of the pawled lever 64 is engaged with the actuator P of the plunger P to release the driving connection between the gears 55 and 60 as shown in FIG. 9, so that the drive from the motor M, is not transmitted to the capstan 62 and the tape 3h is stopped. On the other hand, due to the switch SW, being normally closed, the contact 70, is closed to energize the plunger P and relay 71. Upon energization of the plunger P its actuator P is attracted out of the locus of the projection 64,, of the pawled lever 64, as shown in FIG. 8, whereby the pawled lever 64 is again brought into engagement with the toothed portion 60, of the gear 60 by the force of the spring 65 to thereby cause the capstan 62 to resume its driving action via gears 60, 55 and 61.

Thus, after detecting the start mark A, on the tape 3h, the head 53H begins its scanning axtion simultaneously with the carrier plate 53 moved laterally in the direction of arrow with the rotation of the spiral gear 54. As the result, play-back of the tape 3h begins at the start end of its spiral track and the audio signals recorded thereon are reproduced through unshown amplifier and speaker.

While the start mark A, on the moving tape 3h closes the detection switch D, as soon as it is detected by the latter, the plunger P remains operative with the aid of the holding contact 71, of the parallel-connected relay 71. The other contact of the relay 70 is closed upon energization of this relay, but the plunger P, remains unenergized because the switch SW is then in its open position as shown in FIG. 5.

When the play-back of the magnetic tape 3h is completed and the detection switch D, detects the end mark E,, this switch D, is again closed. Thereupon, the relay 70 is re-energized to close its contacts 70, and 70 The closing of the contact 70, affects the plunger P in no way since the latter remains energized by the holding contact 71,. On the other hand, the plunger P, is energized upon closing of the contact 70 since the switch SW is then closed by the movement of the carrier plate 53, whereby the toothed wheel 36 is rotated as shown in FIG. 4A. With this rotation, the cam 36, on the wheel 36 is displaced from its position corresponding to the microswitches M,, M, to change over these switches and moves the slide 3, into the loading groove '2 in the manner described previously. At that time, the switch SW, is instantaneously opened by the lower side of the actuator 6 and again closed. As the result, the relay 71 and accordingly the plunger P is deenergized so that the gears 55 and 60 are disengaged from each other to allow the plunger actuator P to advance into engagement with the projection 64,, of the pawled lever 64, thus causing the capstan 62 to stop its own rotation.

When the microswitch M, is opened to deenergize the plunger P.,, the release lever 56 is rotated counterclockwise by the force of the spring 57 and thereby the carrier plate 53 engaged with the slit 57, of the lever 56 is rotated counter-clockwise about the shaft 52, so that the sector opening 53, of the carrier plate 53 is disengaged from the spiral gear 54, thus allowing the carrier plate 53 to be returned to its position of FIG. 5 by the spring 58 and also allowing the head 53H and pinch roller 53P on the carrier plate 53 to move away from the openings 3k and 31 in the slide 3,. All this takes place just after the toothed wheel 36 begins its rotation to cause the slide actuator 6 to move the slide 3, into the loading groove 2, and therefore the slide 3, can be discharged from its projecting position without any inconvenience. Then, the group of the slides may be longitudinally advanced in the groove 2 by a distance equal to the thickness of one slide, in the manner described previously.

When the start switch 72 is in its position a, the cam 36, on the toothed wheel 36 changes over the microswitch M into open position in the circuit of FIG. 4C, whereupon the toothed wheel 36 stops its rotation and the slide 3, is returned into the groove 2, and then advanced therein by the distance equal to the thickness of the slide and stopped in that position. On the other hand, when the switch 72 is changed over to its position b, the microswitch M is closed after the slide 3, now in the groove 2 is fed by said distance, and the plunger P, is re-energized to rotate the toothed wheel 36 through 1803 and shift the subsequent slide into the projecting position WT In short, the successive slides 3,-3, are first placed in the loading groove 2, whereafter the mating recess 3n of the first slide 3, is engaged by the slide actuator 6 and then the operating switches SM and SM are operated to energize the plunger P, and thereby rotate the toothed wheel 36. Thus, the actuator 6 is moved to displace the slide 3, into its projecting position and stop it in this position. Then, the tape 3h in the slide 3, is brought to its start position for the sound track thereon, whereafter the projection of the visual information recorded on the transparency of the slide sheet S in the slide 3, is effected and simultaneously therewith, the audio information recorded on the tape 3h is repro' duced by the head 53H scanning the spiral track on the tape in the direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10. When the play-back of the tape 3h proceeds until the end mark E, thereon is detected, the plunger P, is energized and the plunger P, deenergized so that the actuator 6 is actuated to return the slide 3, to its initial position in the groove 2. At the same time, the plunger P or P, is energized to advance the slide 3, in the groove by a distance equal to its thickness so as to allow the next slide 3, to advance to and stay in the position corresponding to the opening 5 of the projector housing 1. Thereafter, the operating switches SM and SM are closed to reproduce the slide 3 in the same way as described with respect to the first slide 3,. The same procedures are repeated for the rest of the successive slides.

The operation of the above-described apparatus will now be described by way of example.

The change-over switch 72 is shifted to its position b, whereby the plunger P, is energized because the microswitch M is closed. Thus, the gear 19' is engaged with the toothed wheel 36 to establish a driving connection therebetween, so that the toothed wheel begins to rotate clockwise as indicated by the arrow (FIG. 4A). Accordingly, the cam 36, on the toothed wheel 36 changes over the microswitches M, and M, into ON and OFF positions, respectively, and the plunger P, is maintained energized by the circuit shown in FIG. 4C. The rotation of the toothed wheel 36 causes the actuator 6 to slide in the direction of arrow from the position of FIG. 4A, and when the toothed wheel 36 rotates through 180 to move the actuator 6 into the slide loading groove 2, the cam 36, on the toothed wheel 36 now changes over the microswitches M, and M into OFF and ON positions, respectively, thereby deenergizing the plunger P, and accordingly disengaging the gear 19 from the toothed wheel 36. Thereupon, the actuator 6 is stopped.

The group of successive slides .3,3,., connected together by the connecting rod 7 (FIG. 3) is then placed in the loading groove 2 and positioned therein with the actuator 6 engaged in the mating recess 3n of the slide 3,. At that time, the retaining actuator 34 is stationarily projected outwardly of the groove 2 and this actuator 34 is received in the mating slots Sir or the slides 3, and 33- The normal-reverse change-over switch SR is then brought to its position a for the normal feeding, and the operating switches SM and SM are operated to close the switch SM temporally, whereby the plunger P, is energized to bring the gear 20 into engagement with the toothed wheel 36, which is thus allowed to rotate until the cam 36, on the rotating toothed wheel opens the microswitch M, to disengage the plungerP,. As the result, the actuator 6 moves the slide 3, to its projecting position and stops it there. The microswitch M, is closed by the cam 36, to thereby energize the plunger P, and urge the head 53H and pinch roller 53P into contact with the tape 3h. The capstan 62 is being rotated because the gears 55 and 60 are operatively connected by the pawled lever 64, and the tape 3h is moved with the pinch roller 53? now in contact therewith. The detection switch D, in the head 53H detects the start mark A, on the tape 3h and is closed, whereupon the relay is operated to energize the plunger P During the while the plunger P is energized, the projection 64,, of the pawled lever 64 remains in engagement with the actuator P of the plunger P to keep the pawled lever 64 out of engagement with the gear 60 and allow no rotation of the gear 55, whereby the head53P is not moved but the tape 3h alone is allowed to move. When the detection switch D, has detected the start mark A,, the actuator P of the plunger P is disengaged from the projection 64,, of the pawled lever 64 so that the pawled lever 64 allows its pawl end portion 64, to be engaged with the toothed portion 60, of the gear 60 by force of the spring 65. As the result, the spiral gear 54 is rotated to cause the head 53H to scan the tape 3h laterally thereof and reproduce the audio signals thereon.

When the detection switch D, detects the end mark E, on the tape 3h at the end of the reproduction, the contact 70, of the relay 70 is closed to re-energize the plunger P, and drive the toothed wheel 36. Accordingly, the microswitches M, and M, are changed over to deenergize the plunger P, and release the release lever 56 from engagement therewith, so that this lever is rotated clockwise about the shaft 57 by the force of the spring 57, whereby the carrier plate 53 engaged with the lever 56 at its slit 57, is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 52 (FIG. 7). As the result, the carrier plate 53 is returned to its position of FIG. 5 by the spring 58 and the head 53H and pinch roller 53F are retracted from the opening 3k and 31 of the slide. During such retraction, the switches SW, and SW, are temporally opened, and thereby the plunger P and the relay 71 are deenergized. As the toothed wheel 36 is rotated, the actuator 6 returns the slide 3, into the loading groove 2, whereafter the succeeding slides 3 -3,, are advanced in the groove 2 longitudinally thereof by a distance equal to the thickness of one slide until the second slide 3 is aligned with the opening 5 of the projector.

FIGS. 12 to 26 show various modified forms of the present invention wherein modifications lie in the start and end marks of the endless tape and in the detection of such marks.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown an embodiment in which audio signals are employed as the start and end marks on the tape. The circuit arrangement for this embodiment is shown in FIG. 12. In these figures, A and E designate the audio signals representing the start mark and the end mark, respectively. This embodiment includes a record-reproduce amplifier D a relay driving amplifier D a relay 170, an audio signal output amplifier V a microphone V and a speaker V The relay 170 is operated by audio signals from microphone V during the recording operation, and by audio signals from magnetic head H during the reproducing operation. Both during the recording and the reproducing operation, the relay 170 remains operative as long as the audio signals continue, and it is de-energized several seconds after the termination of such signals. Switches 170, and 170 are associated with the relay 170. When the relay 170 is operative, i.e., when a current is flowing therethrough, the switch 170 is closed but the switch 170 is opened. The elements P 171, SW P M M 172 and E are identical with the elements P 71, SW P M M 72 and E shown in FIG. 11.

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, of which FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along lines Y2Y2 of FIG. 18, show another embodiment in which a two-channel head is employed so that one of the two channels is used for reproducing the audio information signals and the other channel is used for reproducing the start and end signals. The circuit of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 13. The two-channel magnetic head comprises a magnetic head 253H for audio information signals and a magnetic head D for start and end signals. A;, designates the start signal of a predetermined frequency recorded by D for a predetermined length of time just before the audio information signals start. E designates the end signal ofa predetermined frequency recorded by D for a predetermined length of time just after the audio information signals terminate. The present embodiment includes a record-reproduce amplifier D a signal source D generating a predetermined frequency, a switch D, for driving the signal source D-,, a relay driving amplifier D and a relay 270 driven by signals from D during the recording operation and by signals from D during the reproducing operation. When driven during the recording operation, the relay 270 allows the start and end signals A and E to be recorded on the magnetic tape T Switches 270 and 270 are associated with the relay 270 and adapted to close when a current flows through the relay 270.

FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 show further modifications in which audio information signals as well as start and end signals are recorded on the same recording track by using frequency separation. The circuit of this embodiment is identical with that shown in FIG. 13. A designates the start signal of a frequency different from the frequencies of the audio information signals recorded on the audio signal recording track, the start signal A, being recorded by the head 253H just before the audio information signals start. E, designates the end signal ofa frequency different from the frequencies of the said audio information signals, the end signal B, being recorded by the head H, just after the audio information signals terminate. FIG. 22 refers to the case where the frequencies of the signals A, and E, are

lower than those of the audio information signals, and FIG. 23 refers to the case where the frequencies of the signals A, and E, are higher than those of the audio information signals. The embodiment of FIG. 22 includes a record-reproduce amplifier D a signal source D generating low frequencies which cannot pass through a bypass filter V,,, a switch D for driving the signal source D an audio signal output amplifier V a microphone V a speaker V,, a low-pass filter V a relay driving amplifier D and a relay 270. Similarly, the em bodiment of FIG. 23 includes a record-reproduce amplifier D a signal source D generating frequencies which cannot pass through a low-pass filter V a switch D for driving the signal source D an audio signal output amplifier V a microphone V a speaker V,, a bypass filter V,, a relay driving amplifier D and a relay 270.

For example, if the audio information signals are in the frequency range of lOOHz to SKHz, then D produces frequencies in order of 50Hz, D produces frequencies in order of IOKI-Iz, V cuts the frequencies lower than Hz, V cuts the frequencies higher than 1001-12, and V cuts the frequencies higher and lower than SKHZ. The relay 270 is driven by signals from D or D during the recording operation, but driven by signals from H, during the reproducing operation when signals A, and E, are recorded on the magnetic tape T FIGS. 24, 25 and 26, of which FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along lines Y3Y3 of FIG. 24, show a further embodiment which employs an apertured magnetic tape T so that the apertures therein are used as start and end signals. The circuit of this embodiment is such as shown in FIG. 13. This embodiment includes a photoelectric element D formed integrally with the magnetic head H The apertures formed in the tape T are indicated at A and E The aperture A, is the start mark and formed at a point in the tape which corresponds to D when H is at its start position. The aperture E, is the end mark and formed at a point in the tape which corresponds to the terminal point of the audio information signals. A lamp D is disposed in opposed relationship with the photoelectric element D The light from B, may be replaced by the light from projector lamp L There are further used an amplifier D a relay driving amplifier D and a relay 270.

In the various modifications shown in FIGS. 13 to 26, the start and end marks on the magnetic tape are provided by signals of the same frequencies as those of the audio information signals, or signals of specific frequencies or apertures, instead of the metal foil used in the first embodiment, whereas the operation after the detection of such marks is accomplished just in the same way as previously described. The relays and 270 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are identical with the relay 70 of FIG. 11, and the relays 171 and 271 are the same as relay 71. Microswitches M M M and M and plungers P and P are identical with those shown in the first embodiment. Therefore, further description of these elements and their operations will be unnecessary.

While the above embodiments have been shown and described as employing slide carriers for removably receiving slide sheets therein, it will be apparent that use may be made of audio-visual slides each including an endless tape and an ordinary slide member comprising a transparency integrally attached to a slide mount, as

shown in FIGS. 27 to 32. Referring to FIGS. 27 to 31, there is shown a modified form of the slide. This slide includes a slide case 301, a slide mount 302 embedded in the slide case, a transparency 303 attached to the slide mount, and an endless magnetic tape 304 wrapped around two parallel spaced supporting shafts 308 and 309 rotatably joumalled in the slide case. The slide case 301 is formed with an opening 305 for admitting a magnetic head therethrough, and an opening 307 for admitting a pinch roller therethrough. A capstan 306 may enter through an elongated slot 310 formed through the bottom of the slide case 301. A tape pad 311 is attached to the inner surface of the tape 304 at the head inlet opening 305. The slide shown in FIGS. 27-31 may be formed with retaining slots such as 3n, 3q, 3r, although these are not shown.

The endless tape may also take the form as shown in FIG. 32, wherein the tape 317 is folded into a rectangular shape so as to surround the transparency. In this case, although not shown, rotatable pins will be provided at the four corners for supporting the tape and changing the direction of movement thereof.

According to the present invention, as has been described hitherto, a slide sheet and an endless wide tape contained in an audio-visual slide may be synchronously reproduced with all the involved processes for the audiovisual reproduction being carried out fully au tomatically in a predetermined sequence, and moreover, replacement of such audio-visual slide can also be effected under automatic control. Thus, the invention which is capable of such an excellent performance will be very useful in various fields such as education, entertainment and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising:

means for projecting the transparency of the slide;

driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position; said driving means including reciprocally movable driving means having: a sliding mechanism slidable in a direction for feeding the slide to its projecting position; and

control means for detecting an end position of said mechanism and stopping the mechanism from slide;

said sliding mechanism having a portion engageable with said slide,

said sliding mechanism comprising a rotatable circular member, a slidable member linked to and reciprocated by said rotatable circular member, and a driving member for selectively driving said rotatable member and said slidable member, and said control means includes first and second switching members disposed so that they are changed over by a cam provided on said rotatable circular member and that they are reversed by cams provided at the locations corresponding to the projecting position and discharged position of said slide, whereby said driving member may be selectively operated by said switching members until deactivated when said first and second switching members are changed over by said cam, thereby retaining said slide at its projecting position or at its discharged position,

tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and

reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including:

a head member and a moving means for detecting a start mark provided on said tape at a point thereof corresponding to the starting end of the audio information to thereby move said head member;

whereby said slide is moved to said projecting position so that the visual information recorded on the transparency in said slide and the audio information recorded on said magnetic tape in said slide may be reproduced simultaneously.

2. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using a plurality of juxtaposed audio-visual slides each including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising:

projecting means for the transparencies of the slides; first driving means for moving each slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position;

tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in each slide when the slide is in said projecting position;

reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including: a head member and a moving means for detecting a start mark provided on said tape at a point thereof corresponding to the starting end of the audio information to thereby move said head member; and

second driving means for advancing said slides as a group by the distance equal to the thickness of one slide, said slides being placed in a path to the projecting position and connected together so that they can move together in their direction of advancement and can individually displace in the direction to the projecting position, said second driving means including: an engaging member for engaging at least one of said juxtaposed slides;

a first cam slidable engageable with said engaging member and rotatable to move said engaging member vertically and advancing said group of slides by a distance equal to the thickness of one slide;

a second cam concentric with said first cam and slidably engageable with a switching member; and a driving member for driving said first and second cams, said driving member being deactivated by said switching member;

said first driving means including: a reciprocally movable driving means having a sliding mechanism slidable in the direction for feeding the slides to their projecting position, said mechanism consisting of a rotatable circular member, a slidable member linked to and reciprocated by said rotatable member, and a driving member for selectively driving said reciprocally slidable member and said rotatable member, said slidable member being engageable with said slides to move to the projecting position, said rotatable circular member being provided with a cam member;

and a second switching member provided at a location substantially corresponding to the position said cam assumes for discharging the slides, said second switching member being changed over to its closed position by said cam and connected with said switching member.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said second driving means includes:

a third cam concentric with said first and second cams and having a camming portion out of phase with respect to said first cam; and

an engaging member slidably engaged by said third cam and vertically movable so that at least a portion of said engaging member is engaged with said slides.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second cams are at least 180 out of phase with respect to each other, and these two cams are rotated 360 upon closing of said second switching member and opening of said first switching member.

5. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising:

means for projecting the transparency of the slide;

driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position;

tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and

reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including,

a head member having mark detecting means for detecting a start mark and a stop mark which are provided on said magnetic tape and audio information detecting means for detecting the audio information recorded in said magnetic tape, and

moving means for moving and stopping said head member in response to the detection by said mark detecting means:

whereby said slide is moved to said projecting position so that the visual information recorded on the transparency in said slide and the audio information recorded on said magnetic tape in said slide may be reproduced simultaneously.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means includes switching means actuated by metal foil contacts provided on said magnetic tape.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means includes means for starting said moving means upon detecting the audio information recorded in said magnetic tape and stopping said moving means upon the termination of said audio information.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means detects information provided on said magnetic tape in parallel with said audio information to start and stop said moving means.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means detects information provided on said magnetic tape and having a frequency different from the frequencies of the audio information.

10. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising:

means for projecting the transparency of the slide;

driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position;

tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and

reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including,

projecting means,

a head member having a light receiving element for receiving, when one of openings provided in said magnetic tape is aligned with said light receiving element, the light coming from said projecting means and audio information detecting means for detecting audio information recorded in said magnetic tape, and

moving means for moving and stopping said head member in response to the light receiving element. 

1. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising: means for projecting the transparency of the slide; driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position; said driving means including reciprocally movable driving means having: a sliding mechanism slidable in a direction for feeding the slide to its projecting position; and control means for detecting an end position of said mechanism and stopping the mechanism from sliding; said sliding mechanism having a portion engageable with said slide, said sliding mechanism comprising a rotatable circular member, a slidable member linked to and reciprocated by said rotatable circular member, and a driving member for selectively driving said rotatable member and said slidable member, and said control means includes first and second switching members disposed so that they are changed over by a cam provided on said rotatable circular member and that they are reversed by cams provided at the locations corresponding to the projecting position and discharged position of said slide, whereby said driving member may be selectively operated by said switching members until deactivated when said first and second switching members are changed over by said cam, thereby retaining said slide at its projecting position or at its discharged position, tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including: a head member and a moving means for detecting a start mark provided on said tape at a point thereof corresponding to the starting end of the audio information to thereby move said head member; whereby said slide is moved to said projecting position so that the visual information recorded on the transparency in said slide and the audio information recorded on said magnetic tape in said slide may be reproduced simultaneously.
 2. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using a plurality of juxtaposed audio-visual slides each including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising: projecting means for the transparencies of the slides; first driving means for moving each slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position; tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in each slide when the slide is in said projecting position; reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including: a head member and a moving means for detecting a start mark provided on said tape at a point thereof corresponding to the starting end of the audio information to thereby move said head member; and second driving means for advancing said slides as a group by the distance equal to the thickness of one slide, sAid slides being placed in a path to the projecting position and connected together so that they can move together in their direction of advancement and can individually displace in the direction to the projecting position, said second driving means including: an engaging member for engaging at least one of said juxtaposed slides; a first cam slidable engageable with said engaging member and rotatable to move said engaging member vertically and advancing said group of slides by a distance equal to the thickness of one slide; a second cam concentric with said first cam and slidably engageable with a switching member; and a driving member for driving said first and second cams, said driving member being deactivated by said switching member; said first driving means including: a reciprocally movable driving means having a sliding mechanism slidable in the direction for feeding the slides to their projecting position, said mechanism consisting of a rotatable circular member, a slidable member linked to and reciprocated by said rotatable member, and a driving member for selectively driving said reciprocally slidable member and said rotatable member, said slidable member being engageable with said slides to move to the projecting position, said rotatable circular member being provided with a cam member; and a second switching member provided at a location substantially corresponding to the position said cam assumes for discharging the slides, said second switching member being changed over to its closed position by said cam and connected with said switching member.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said second driving means includes: a third cam concentric with said first and second cams and having a camming portion out of phase with respect to said first cam; and an engaging member slidably engaged by said third cam and vertically movable so that at least a portion of said engaging member is engaged with said slides.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second cams are at least 180* out of phase with respect to each other, and these two cams are rotated 360* upon closing of said second switching member and opening of said first switching member.
 5. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising: means for projecting the transparency of the slide; driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position; tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including, a head member having mark detecting means for detecting a start mark and a stop mark which are provided on said magnetic tape and audio information detecting means for detecting the audio information recorded in said magnetic tape, and moving means for moving and stopping said head member in response to the detection by said mark detecting means: whereby said slide is moved to said projecting position so that the visual information recorded on the transparency in said slide and the audio information recorded on said magnetic tape in said slide may be reproduced simultaneously.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means includes switching means actuated by metal foil contacts provided on said magnetic tape.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means includes means for starting said moving means upon detecting the audio information recorded in said magnetic tape and stopping said moving meanS upon the termination of said audio information.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means detects information provided on said magnetic tape in parallel with said audio information to start and stop said moving means.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said mark detecting means detects information provided on said magnetic tape and having a frequency different from the frequencies of the audio information.
 10. An apparatus for presenting visual information and audio information by using an audio-visual slide including therein a transparency for projection and a movable endless magnetic tape, said apparatus comprising: means for projecting the transparency of the slide; driving means for moving said slide to the projecting position in said projecting means and returning the same to its original position; tape driving means for driving the magnetic tape in said slide when the slide is in said projecting position; and reproducing means adapted to be urged into contact with said magnetic tape and moved substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of said tape to reproduce audio information recorded on a spiral track of the tape, said reproducing means including, projecting means, a head member having a light receiving element for receiving, when one of openings provided in said magnetic tape is aligned with said light receiving element, the light coming from said projecting means and audio information detecting means for detecting audio information recorded in said magnetic tape, and moving means for moving and stopping said head member in response to the light receiving element. 